251. The Wandering Inn

251. The Wandering Inn

“Think about it!” Adam said, excitedly. “A Merchant escort agency, or even a Merchant agency, one which has its own Priests and Mages and Warriors. The Priests get to have their own little temple for their gods, Mages with their own studies, Warriors with... whatever they might want.”

“If you can find a place in the wild near the Iyr, you can claim it and build around it,” Jurot said. “As long as the tax is paid, the Kingdom will not refuse you.”

The others looked to Jurot, wondering why he was encouraging the madness Adam was speaking. This had gone beyond just a gathering to cheer Adam up, it was now enabling his delusions.

“How much is the tax?”

“Ten percent of what the Chief collects in tax?” Jurot asked.

“So I’d make a village and become a Chief?” Adam asked.

Jurot paused. “There are wild inns which operate differently. Each month, one gold per worker must be sent. It is a silver for any children which live on the premise. As long as money is sent to the Kingdom, they should not care.”

Adam nodded his head. “Is there a place nearby? An abandoned gem mine at the side of a mountain, an abandoned town?”

“This is no company,” Jonn said. “This is an...”

“Order,” Dunes said. “An Order of gold.”

Adam fell silent. “Should I do that instead?”

“That is far more difficult,” Jurot said. “You must offer assistance to the Kingdom when it requires it, and since it will be newly made, it may be easier for the Kingdom to demand more.”

“Then maybe I don’t make an Order,” Adam said, casually. “I’d like a ruined town to make the compound. Would probably be easier, as long as the ruined town was ruined because of something sensible.”

The fact that Adam used the word sensible caused the others to glance between one another.

“Some place near the Iyr, maybe with an enchanting shrine,” Adam said, letting part of his secret slip. “Magical weapons may be a really good way of, you know, making tons of money to afford everything.”

“Acquiring Enchanters is a difficult task,” Vonda said when no one else interrupted.

“Leave that to me,” Adam said, winking at her. “That’s what we could sell. Magic and magic accessories. Enchanted weapons, armour, items, and stuff like scrolls. That could pay for everything, bank rolling the entire operation so other stuff could be run at a small loss.” Adam thought about how a certain company operated, losing money yearly, and yet making billionaires and millionaires.

“It would be best to situate such a business within a town,” Jurot said. “Central Aldland would be best, though the land is safe. South Port? From South Port, you could travel to most of the South Aldland towns, then to West Aldland, circle around the hills and mountain, then to North Aldland, to East Aldland, and if you wish, Central Aldland.”

The others looked at Jurot, wondering why he continued to encourage Adam’s lunacy.

“South Aldland?” Adam asked, pointing to his ears. “With these bad boys on my head?”

Sky looked up upon hearing bad boy, but dropped down again.

“East Aldland will treat you better,” Jurot assured.

“How long does it take to get to the East Aldland from the Iyr?” Adam asked.

“No more than a month,” Jurot assured.

“A month?” Adam asked, groaning. “Seriously?”

Adam smiled.

“Adventurers would love an inn in between the towns,” Dunes admitted.

“It would be difficult to keep it safe from all manner of creatures, from Raiders to Rocs,” Jonn said.

“We’d keep a few nukes in our back pocket, just in case,” Adam said. “Or have enough Guards, with enough ranged weaponry, maybe magical arrows, to keep pests from thinking twice.”

‘Newks?’ they thought.

“I really want to do that,” Adam said. “That sounds so cool. It might be profitable, might not be, but considering how many people travel, and how many people want guaranteed safety along their travels. Chances are, we’d made the areas much safer too.”

“I can’t stress how difficult it would be,” Dunes said. “You would essentially be creating forts between towns, which has its own implications and issues. The cost of materials to create the forts, the supplies for food, the defence against all manner of creatures, not to mention the pay to convince people to live near death at all times.”

“We can think about that later,” Adam said. “It was nice to throw out all my crazy ideas to bounce between you all.”

“You knew it was crazy?” Jaygak asked.

“Of course,” Adam said. “What, you thought this entire time I thought it was normal?”

“I can’t tell with you sometimes,” Jaygak said.

“I think Adam is someone who has great thoughts, thoughts which may not be those that others think, but thoughts I wish more people held,” Vonda said.

Adam chuckled. “If other people had these ideas, then I wouldn’t be interesting enough for you all to stick around.”

“I do not stay here with you because you are interesting,” Jurot said.

“First of all, that’s rather hurtful, but secondly, you’re family, that doesn’t count.”

“He’s right,” Jaygak said. “He needs something to make up for the lack of-“

“Horns,” Adam said. “Yeah, yeah.”

Lucy exchanged a look with Jaygak, nodding her head. “Adam’s weird, but he’s my friend, so I’ll stick with him.”

“Not your General?”

“Who wants a General like you?” Lucy asked. “You’re too crazy to be a General.”

“It’s crazy people like me who will bring workers’ rights to the world,” Adam joked. “Just like how...” ‘Wait, if I bring workers’ rights to this world, can I still say I’m British.”

Dunes was about to call for Adam, but Jurot shook his head.

“Leave him,” Jurot whispered. “He is thinking about something stupid again.”

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Due to my lack of sleep, I'm having a few, hopefully, minor health issue. Still trying to fix stuff. I keep waking up way too early so F.